Field announced for The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer

Gold Cup and Saucer ambassador Haley Thomson, the daughter of Arron and Michelle Thomson of Charlottetown, places the card of Rockin In Heaven on the board to set the order of Trial 1 Tuesday in Charlottetown. Rockin In Heaven is owned by Douglas E. Polley of Amherst, N.S., and Gordon E. McComb of Fall River, N.S. - Dave Stewart

Horse trainers and owners say just being in the field is special

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Nova Scotia trainer Teesha Symes drove all the way down from Ontario to be in one of The Guardian Gold Cup and Saucer trials.

Symes, from Springhill, N.S., said she’s only missed one Gold Cup and Saucer Race in her lifetime.

“I’m pretty excited. (This is) absolutely a dream come true,’’ Symes told The Guardian shortly after her horse, Rockin In Heaven, drew Post 4 in Trial 1 on Saturday. “I was in my mum’s belly here. It’s a dream come true just to be here. I’m so excited. We can only hope (to be in the final), fingers crossed.’’

Mike MacDonald displays The Evening Patriot Gold Cup and Saucer Trophy after winning Atlantic Canada’s most prestigious harness race at the Charlottetown Driving Park. It was one of his record-setting five Gold Cup wins.

Trainer Bo Ford, whose horse Rose Run Quest grabbed the six-hole in Trial 1 on Saturday, thinks Symes stands a good chance of stepping into the winner’s circle.

“Teesha Symes’ horse, Rockin In Heaven, is coming fresh off a preferred victory. Obviously, if I was to nab a favourite he would be the one that I would nab as a favourite,’’ Ford said. “With the four-hole, it looks like you might be able to get a second-over trip on his back. If he’s good enough, and I think he’s legit enough to make the final, hopefully the trip works out from the sixth hole.’’

MacRae doesn’t know a lot about Bet on Brett, having just bought him a week ago so he’d have a horse in the field. He co-owns the horse with Red Isle Racing, his son, Steven MacRae and Allard Racing Inc.

“We always try to have one,’’ Donnie MacRae said. “We’ve had one the last three, four years and this year the horse we had just wasn’t what we thought he was so we had to start looking elsewhere. As it turns out, we’re in and we drew well. The rest is up to the fate of the Gods, the horse and the trainer. I (did) the easy part; I just wrote the cheque.’’